Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 Is Bringing Back A Key Collaborator

Although Marvel’s movies are commercially and (for the most part) critically successful, there’s not always 100% consistency in the creative process. Actors may be recast, directors and writers may leave, and while the following movie may end up being a great product on its own, there are parts that won’t feel the same as the preceding story. Fortunately it doesn’t appear that will be the case with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as nearly all of the major creative talent from the first installment are coming back for the sequel, including the man who put the music together…no, I don’t mean director James Gunn and Awesome Mix Vol. 1.

Collider has learned that Tyler Bates will return to score Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Although the tunes chosen by Gunn for Peter Quill’s mixtape stole the show for many people, Bates’ score was memorable in its own way. While composers like Brian Tyler and Alan Silvestri have scored multiple Marvel movies, Bates is only the second composer that’s returned for an MCU direct sequel, following Henry Jackman, who scored Captain America: The Winter Soldier and will score Captain America: Civil War.

Rather than score Guardians of the Galaxy after the cast and crew finished shooting, Gunn had Bates write some of the score ahead of time so he could shoot scenes set to that music. It’s possible Bates may go through a similar process in the sequel. Bates’ previous collaborations with Gunn include Slither and Super. His more recent projects include scoring last year’s John Wick and The Darkest Hour, as well as the TV shows Californication and Kingdom. His work can currently be heard in the WGN series Salem.

In addition to Bates, Gunn and the five main actors (Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will also see the return of Michael Rooker’s Yondu and Karen Gillan’s Nebula. Gunn announced back in June that he finished the first draft for the sequel, followed by the title announcement several weeks later. Plot details are scarce on what to expect from the Guardians’ next theatrical romp, but it will involve exploring the relationship between Peter Quill and his mysterious father. The film will also introduce a new Guardian and James Gunn’s favorite superhero, who for all we know may end up being the same person. Gunn has also chosen the songs for Awesome Mix Vol. 2, so the audience will almost certainly get great orchestral music and tunes from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.